Whenever a significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories actually cover many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games globally continuing this trend for many years.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
